Queensland's First Nations businesses, artists, and leaders were stars of the show, making a powerful impact at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.

Indigenous innovation, sustainability and culture were celebrated during Te Aratini Indigenous Peoples Week at the Australia Pavilion.

TIQ board member Delvene Cockatoo-Collins gave a keynote address, while award-winning Indigenous entrepreneurs in the bush food and native botanicals industry highlighted just some of the global trade opportunities and cultural connections between Queensland's First Nations business sector and Japan .

A pop-up at LUCUA Osaka drew crowds with its live performances, while artisan showcases and immersive storytelling sparked interest from Japanese business networks.

TIQ had positioned First Nations enterprises as global leaders in art, eco-tourism and sustainable trade at the Osaka expo.

Japan is Queensland's third-largest goods export market, valued at $14.2 billion at June 2025. Last financial year Queensland's goods exports totalled $104.8 billion despite a challenging global environment.

Other initiatives that promoted the connections between Country, culture and community included the Living Culture, Future Dreaming: From Queensland to the World showcase, which highlighted opportunities for collaboration between Queensland and Japan.

Australian Ambassador for First Nations People, Justin Mohamed, was in attendance to see the keynote address by Ms Cockatoo-Collings, a Quandamooka artist who was stunned by the response and interest from local business networks.

"The huge crowds at Lucua Osaka were incredible, and it was a powerful reminder of how our stories and culture connect globally," she said.

"It has been an extraordinary opportunity to build connections and open doors for future collaboration in art, business, and community internationally."

Queensland's Deputy Trade and Investment Commissioner for Japan, Melissa Inooka, led a panel discussion that discussed three First Nations entrepreneurs: Jacob Davidson, founder of FigJam & Co; Helen Bool, founder of Helen Rose Cosmetics and Wellness; and Kirra Daley, co-founder of Beachtree Distilling Co.

The panel explored the importance of engaging with First Nations communities, and the surging global demand for bush food ingredients and native botanicals, an example of the international impact of Indigenous-led enterprises.

Beachtree Distilling Co. was recently awarded World's Best Craft Producer and World's Best Sustainable Distillery at the 2025 World Drinks Awards in London.

The event also highlighted cultural parallels between First Nations and Japanese traditions – shared values of provenance, ritual, craftsmanship, nature, and sustainability, while Queensland's First Nations pop-up at Lucua Osaka captivated the public as part of DEMOExpo, an initiative bringing the spirit of World Expo to the streets throughout the week.

Performances by the Lagaw Titui Island Stars, a Meet the Maker pop up with Mrs Cockatoo- Collins, artworks and product displays by Hogarth Arts, Hopevale Arts, Yalanji Arts, MOA Arts, and Jedess Hudson brought Queensland's First Nations stories to life for Japanese audiences.